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Background Social media, including online health communities (OHCs), are widely used among both healthy people and those with health conditions. Platforms like Twitter (recently renamed X) have become powerful tools for online mental health communities (OMHCs), enabling users to exchange information, express feelings, and socialize. Recognized as empowering processes, these activities could empower mental health consumers, their families and friends, and society. However, it remains unclear how OMHCs empower diverse population levels and groups. Objective This study aimed to develop an understanding of how empowerment processes are conducted within OMHCs on Twitter by identifying members who shape these communities, detecting the types of empowerment processes aligned with the population levels and groups outlined in Strategy 1 of the Integrated People-Centred Health Services (IPCHS) framework by the World Health Organization (WHO), and clarifying members’ involvement tendencies in these processes. Methods We conducted our analysis on a Twitter OMHC called #bipolarclub. We captured 2068 original tweets using its hashtag #bipolarclub between December 19, 2022, and January 15, 2023. After screening, 547 eligible tweets by 182 authors were analyzed. Using qualitative content analysis, community members were classified by examining the 182 authors’ Twitter profiles, and empowerment processes were identified by analyzing the 547 tweets and categorized according to the WHO’s Strategy 1. Members’ tendencies of involvement were examined through their contributions to the identified processes. Results The analysis of #bipolarclub community members unveiled 5 main classifications among the 182 members, with the majority classified as individual members (n=138, 75.8%), followed by health care–related members (n=39, 21.4%). All members declared that they experience mental health conditions, including mental health and general practitioner members, who used the community as consumers and peers rather than for professional services. The analysis of 547 tweets for empowerment processes revealed 3 categories: individual-level processes (6 processes and 2 subprocesses), informal carer processes (1 process for families and 1 process for friends), and society-level processes (1 process and 2 subprocesses). The analysis also demonstrated distinct involvement tendencies among members, influenced by their identities, with individual members engaging in self-expression and family awareness support and health care–related members supporting societal awareness. Conclusions The examination of the #bipolarclub community highlights the capability of Twitter-based OMHCs to empower mental health consumers (including those from underserved and marginalized populations), their families and friends, and society, aligning with the WHO’s empowerment agenda. This underscores the potential benefits of leveraging Twitter for such objectives. This pioneering study is the very first to analyze how a single OMHC can empower diverse populations, offering various health care stakeholders valuable guidance and aiding them in developing consumer-oriented empowerment programs using such OMHCs. We also propose a structured framework that classifies empowerment processes in OMHCs, inspired by the WHO’s Strategy 1 (IPCHS framework).
Background Social media, including online health communities (OHCs), are widely used among both healthy people and those with health conditions. Platforms like Twitter (recently renamed X) have become powerful tools for online mental health communities (OMHCs), enabling users to exchange information, express feelings, and socialize. Recognized as empowering processes, these activities could empower mental health consumers, their families and friends, and society. However, it remains unclear how OMHCs empower diverse population levels and groups. Objective This study aimed to develop an understanding of how empowerment processes are conducted within OMHCs on Twitter by identifying members who shape these communities, detecting the types of empowerment processes aligned with the population levels and groups outlined in Strategy 1 of the Integrated People-Centred Health Services (IPCHS) framework by the World Health Organization (WHO), and clarifying members’ involvement tendencies in these processes. Methods We conducted our analysis on a Twitter OMHC called #bipolarclub. We captured 2068 original tweets using its hashtag #bipolarclub between December 19, 2022, and January 15, 2023. After screening, 547 eligible tweets by 182 authors were analyzed. Using qualitative content analysis, community members were classified by examining the 182 authors’ Twitter profiles, and empowerment processes were identified by analyzing the 547 tweets and categorized according to the WHO’s Strategy 1. Members’ tendencies of involvement were examined through their contributions to the identified processes. Results The analysis of #bipolarclub community members unveiled 5 main classifications among the 182 members, with the majority classified as individual members (n=138, 75.8%), followed by health care–related members (n=39, 21.4%). All members declared that they experience mental health conditions, including mental health and general practitioner members, who used the community as consumers and peers rather than for professional services. The analysis of 547 tweets for empowerment processes revealed 3 categories: individual-level processes (6 processes and 2 subprocesses), informal carer processes (1 process for families and 1 process for friends), and society-level processes (1 process and 2 subprocesses). The analysis also demonstrated distinct involvement tendencies among members, influenced by their identities, with individual members engaging in self-expression and family awareness support and health care–related members supporting societal awareness. Conclusions The examination of the #bipolarclub community highlights the capability of Twitter-based OMHCs to empower mental health consumers (including those from underserved and marginalized populations), their families and friends, and society, aligning with the WHO’s empowerment agenda. This underscores the potential benefits of leveraging Twitter for such objectives. This pioneering study is the very first to analyze how a single OMHC can empower diverse populations, offering various health care stakeholders valuable guidance and aiding them in developing consumer-oriented empowerment programs using such OMHCs. We also propose a structured framework that classifies empowerment processes in OMHCs, inspired by the WHO’s Strategy 1 (IPCHS framework).
BACKGROUND Heart failure is a prevalent and debilitating condition, affecting millions globally and imposing significant burden on patients, families, and healthcare systems. Despite advancements in medical treatments, the gap in effective, continuous, and personalized supportive care remains glaringly evident. To address this pressing issue, virtual healthcare services, delivered by interdisciplinary teams, represent a promising solution. There is a lack of comprehensive data on the benefits of interdisciplinary virtual heart failure remote monitoring support programs on patient adherence, quality of life, and overall healthcare costs in Australia. Understanding the outcomes and experience of remote monitoring enabled chronic disease management programs can inform better resource allocation and healthcare policy decisions. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and behavioural outcomes of patients undertaking a Virtual Home Health Heart Failure Program (VHHHFP) and explore the experiences of patients and health care practitioners. METHODS A mixed methods study was conducted in collaboration with patients and health practitioners. Self-reported outcome data (KCCQ12, PHQ4, PAM13 and PREMS) were obtained from the records of patients (n=55) who completed the intensive phase (0- 3 months) of the VHHHFP; and interviews were conducted with patients (n= 9) and health practitioners (n= 6). RESULTS Thirty-one (77.5%) of the n=55 patients completed the baseline and three-month follow-up KCCQ12 assessment. The mean KCCQ12 Summary Score at three months was 72.20 which was significantly higher than the mean Summary Score at baseline of 50.51 (p<.001). These findings were similar for the KCCCQ12 sub-scales: Physical Limitations (47.09 and 69.43, p<0.001), Quality of Life (43.75 and 62.91, p<0.001), Symptom Frequency (60.40 and 91.70; p<0.001) and Social Limitation (50.0 and 82.50; p<0.001). The PHQ-4 measure of psychological health was completed by n=32 (80%). The median scores at baseline and follow-up for Total Distress (1.50 and 0.0; p<0.02), and the Anxiety sub-scale (1.0 and 0.0; p <0.02) reduced over time. Six hospital admissions were recorded for five patients (10.2% of n=49) within 30 days of commencement of the VHHHFP. Nine patient interviews were informed by the Value Based Healthcare (VBHC) Capability Comfort and Calm (CCC) Framework. Three themes were identified 1) Enhanced patient capability, 2) Improved patient comfort and 3) Positive influences on Calm. Six healthcare professionals shared experiences and perceptions of the VHHHFP, with three emerging themes- 1) Improved patient capability through shared decision making, 2) Improving Capability through care practices and 3) Promoting Comfort and Calm through virtual coordination and collaboration. CONCLUSIONS The use of technologies to support the management of HF is an area of growth and development. This study contributes to the understanding of how remote patient monitoring with interdisciplinary chronic disease support integrated into an existing system can improve clinical outcomes for patients.
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